Move hailed as milestone in fostering closer interfaith relations

Pope Francis will make the first papal trip to the Arabian Peninsula when he visits the United Arab Emirates in February.

In a Dec. 6 statement, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis will "participate in the International Interfaith Meeting on 'Human Fraternity'" after receiving an invitation by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

"The visit will take place also in response to the invitation of the Catholic Church in the United Arab Emirates," the Vatican said. The visit is scheduled for Feb. 3-5.

In the United Arab Emirates about 10 percent of the population or 1 million people identify as Christians.

Expectations are high that the pope’s appearance will boost interfaith ties in the Arabian Peninsula nation.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president and ruler of Dubai, hailed the looming visit as a golden opportunity to “strengthen our ties and understanding of each other,” according to the UAE’s The National.

In his tweeted message, he added the visit would “enhance interfaith dialogue and help us to work together to maintain and build peace among the nations of the world.”

The pope, 81, has already visited Turkey in 2014, Azerbaijan in 2016 and Egypt in 2017 as part of his mission to improve ties between Christianity and Islam.

“This visit, like the one to Egypt, shows the fundamental importance the Holy Father gives to inter-religious dialogue,” Vatican spokesman Greg Burke was quoted as saying.

“Pope Francis visiting the Arab world is a perfect example of the culture of encounter,” he added.

Christian expats, including many from India, the Philippines and Africa, said they have long been praying for his arrival.

“It has been the hope of all Catholics in the UAE that the Holy Father would visit us here,” Father Ani Xavier, a parish priest at St. Paul’s Church in Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi, told the media.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said he was also looking forward to the “historic visit, through which we will seek dialogue on the peaceful coexistence among peoples.”

He described Pope Francis, whose itinerary has not yet been disclosed, as a “symbol of peace, tolerance, and the promotion of brotherhood.”

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